What Are the Treatment Goals for Crohn's Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. However, it most commonly affects the large intestine and the terminal ileum, affecting up to 75% of patients with colonic or ileocolonic disease. It is observed in approximately 0.5%-1% of the general population.

Features and Symptoms

Crohn's disease differs from other types of IBD because the inflammation is continuous and involves the mucosa. Disease progression includes severe colitis, strictures, and more. Most patients develop a relapsing disease characterized by abdominal pain, bloody stools, vomiting, and weight loss.

Three factors have been reported to increase the likelihood of developing disabling disease within the next five years at the time of diagnosis: (A) Age <40 years, (B) Presence of perianal lesions, (C) Response to steroid treatment.

Diagnosis and Prognosis

Crohn's disease typically appears in adulthood but can be present in childhood. Early-onset Crohn's disease (EOCD) is typically characterized by more extensive and rapid progression. With a median age at diagnosis of 27 years, patients in the Western world, where life expectancy exceeds 70 years, can live with CD for more than 50 years.

Causes and Mechanisms

The cause of Crohn's disease is unclear. It needs to be determined whether this disease is an abnormal response to normal antigen stimulation or an appropriate response to persistently abnormal stimuli. The intestinal environment involves many complex factors, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota, PAMPs, intestinal mucosal epithelium, and immunomodulation can lead to the development of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Treatment and Management

The treatment goals for Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, are as follows:

• Controlling symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloody stools
• Restoring the balance of gut microbiota and resolving chronic inflammation
• Restoring immune balance to normalize autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions

Satisfactory treatment outcomes can be achieved only by considering both local and systemic aspects of the disease.

References

According to research introducing acupuncture treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, various acupoints can be selected, with those located on the abdomen, hands, and feet being frequently used.

Today, we discussed Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease.